Uganda 2008

What now???

wccconnect — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:22:30 +0000

Ok – so we’re back. So many thoughts and feelings are swirling around in our heads. We are each struggling to know how to deal with what we’ve seen and felt. We realize that we have so much in America. We also know that God loves the people in Uganda just as much as He does us. Our desire is to know how best to support what God is doing through the ministries of Scripture Union and Pastor David. Please pray for each of us as we seek what God wants from us. -Scott

Thoughts before heading home (pt 3)

wccconnect — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:08:19 +0000

Cody - This has easily been the best and most life-changing experience of my life. I don’t know how you could come out of an experience like this and not be changed. The people here have such a passion for God at such a young age. It really puts things into perspective of how God intended our relationship with Him to be. They have true, through and through, living faith, and I am ashamed of my relationship with Christ. I have lost sight of what He’s doing in my life and the world. He has opened my eyes not only to Him and His glory, but also what He has planned for my future. We have an amazing God and He is on the move in Africa. I am excited to come home to see everyone, but I will miss this place a lot. There is no doubt in my mind that this will not be my only trip here. I wrote in my journal at BigStuf that the people of Africa need the world to show them God’s love when love is so hard to find. But I found the world needs the people of Africa to show them their hope and faith in the One and Only, our God of everything, the Alpha Omega, Beginning and End. It is for these people that the highest thrones in Heaven are reserved.

Mindi - This has been a wonderful, blessed experience. I am anxious for home, but I don’t want any of this experience to fade. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. I can’t wait to share with all of you. God is doing amazing things in Uganda and with this team.

Kimm - God is alive and vibrantly working in the people of Uganda. We have been blessed with the provision and guidance of the Scripture Union staff. I was curious to know if our supporters realized that the National Director of S.U. in Uganda, as well as two men who are in important leadership roles for the organization, were with us daily in our mission experience? Their humility and true life of service is unparalleled. If we were volunteering in the U.S., would the organization send their President, CEO, and CFO? The sacrifice of all the Scripture Union staff cannot go unmentioned. They give their lives to the work of Christ. The Word is being spread through the sheer tenacity of their efforts! Words cannot describe the perseverance they exhibit to do God’s work. One thing I will never forget is that, when children approached us to ask us for something, it was never for money, shoes, or clothing. They asked us for Bibles…a Bible! Their spiritual thirst and hunger exceeds any physical need that is visible only to us.

Thoughts before heading home (pt 2)

wccconnect — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:07:41 +0000

Erica - I really don’t even know where to begin. God has done, and will continue to do, amazing things here in Uganda and with this team and workers from SU. I am so blessed to have spent the past week or so with all of these people. Thank-you isn’t enough but I do want everyone on this team and everyone who supported me with love, prayer, and finances. Africa was amazing and I haven’t ever felt more welcome. The love and excitement were so overwhelming for me, but very refreshing. I can’t wait to get home and see everyone that I love, but I also don’t want to forget ANYTHING that happened while I was here. BYE LOVES!

Kaitlyn - This week has been so amazing, words really can not explain. Not only have I seen people who love the Lord so passionately, but I have seen people who have nothing love him so much as well. We went to so many schools this week and I have been blessed to meet all of the beautiful children. I think the schools that touched me the most were the high schools. The last two schools I went to were both boys’ high schools. These boys were so passionate about Christ and loved him so much. I really don’t see that kind of passion for Christ in most teenage boys so it was a huge encouragement. I am so sad to leave Africa. I feel so loved and accepted here, I love the people here so much. I have made amazing friends here. I am excited to see my family though – ha ha. This trip has definitely changed my life. It is making me realize what God wants me to do in this world and it has made me closer to Christ. I have had to depend on God so much on this journey. Without him, none of this would have been possible.

Thoughts before heading home (pt 1)

wccconnect — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:47:29 +0000

Court - WOW…It’s our last day in Uganda. It’s been an incredible experience! This is an amazing country and the people here have such a neat inner beauty… I will miss them. I don’t look forward to the many hours of travel ahead, but I am excited to be heading home. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Scott - I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to lead such a neat group of people who barely knew each other 2 months ago. We prayed, before coming, that God would open our hearts and eyes to what He wanted us to experience. Once again He has come through in amazing ways. I love hearing all the stories from the team and SU staff about how they have seen God work over the past 10 days. Thank you for reading this and do me a favor: bow your head right now and pray that God will continue to lead and sustain Pastor David and the Scripture Union Staff. Thanks – it makes a difference and so honors God!

Deanna - Tomorrow is d-day. Departure day. We will spend the majority of the morning and afternoon with Scripture Union staff and are planning on sharing communion. It will be an exciting time and a sad time. Jude, Beth, and Joel have become a dear part of the team and it will feel strange to get on the plane without them. Their work here is never ending and exhausting. I hope that we have been an encouragement to them. They certainly have been to us. When I think of them and the areas they go, I am in awe. The children that they touch are uncountable. I am glad that we were a witness to such a miraculous work of God.

Hope

wccconnect — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:55:01 +0000

— Scott Nieveen, Team Leader

Even though the people in North Uganda have many things they could be defeated by, I am amazed by their smiles. When you talk to those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ, they share with you how God has sustained them. They speak of God and how He has provided. Please pray for the many widows and children, that God will continue to provide people in their lives who can point them to God and help meet their physical needs.

Passion for God

wccconnect — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:10:33 +0000

— Scott Nieveen, Team Leader

As we have visited schools, we have seen such a passion for God in the lives of some students. I have often wondered why do they have such a deeper desire to know God better. Is it because they have little else to depend on? I wish we could see how much of a distraction our stuff in America is. I know far too many times I seek to find answers in other things in place of God. I hope we can take back some of the single-mindedness we have seen in these students for God. Please pray that we finish well.

Kitgum Pastor’s Conference

wccconnect — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:06:18 +0000

— Scott Nieveen, Team Leader

Pastor David arranged for a conference of encouragement, teaching, and worship the second day we were in Kitgum. Joel is a senior leader at Scripture Union and has been our driver, interpreter, and friend throughout this trip. These pastors came from 5km to over 100km all either walking or riding these bikes. Pastor David, Joel, and myself each took a session and encouraged them by teaching them from God’s Word. What a privilege to equip and encourage their faithfulness and the roles God has given them as pastors. Thanks for your continued prayers.

From the Team

wccconnect — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:07:40 +0000

Jeff - We arrived back in Kampala on Sunday night. Still reeling, in a good way, from the trip up north to Kitgum. We really appreciate getting back to the accommodations in Kampala (hot shower). Still learning about Uganda and looking forward to the next few days. May God bless you and please continue to pray for our missions team.

Gary - Hello. We arrived back from 9hrs of driving on the Uganda super highway (ok they are really deeply rutted dirt roads). We appreciate your prayers as we really needed them. Our daily experiences continue to grow. And watching the Lord’s work is amazing. Our journey is coming to a close too quickly. Thank you all for your support and prayers. See you soon.

Restoring Hope

wccconnect — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:59:49 +0000

— Scott Nieveen, Team Leader

Pastor David took us to a church that was a 3 hour drive away. This church was planted during the war and was held in one of the IDP Camps (Internally Displaced People). We gathered with them as they sang songs of thanks to God. We each shared how humbling and grateful we were to spend some time in their village.

This woman (in the picture below) and her husband were abducted by the LRA. They killed him in front of her and then went on to cut off both her ears and lips. It is hard to comprehend that people can be so cruel to fellow humans. I was told later by Pastor David that they believe Joseph Koney, the LRA’s leader, has demonic activity in his life because the things they have done not only to adults, but mostly children, are pure evil.

Pastor David shared some words of encouragement from God’s word and then we were invited back to the pastor’s hut for a lunch of goat meat, millet bread, and something white that is like a gritty dumpling. Again we were deeply humbled and honored. The pastor believes it is a new day as they are able to return to their village and worship in their own church with most of their fear being gone.

Out in the Bush

wccconnect — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:33:31 +0000

— Scott Nieveen, Team Leader

Today (July 11) we traveled 3 hours by truck to a remote part of Northern Uganda near the Sudan border. We visited 2 schools where Scripture Union has just started ministering. These schools were finally re-opened for the first time in 20 years due to the war with the LRA rebels. What an exciting time as we were greeted by the children with special songs and dances they had prepared for our arrival. As you can see in the picture they invited us to share lunch with them. I loved it because I used to say to people, “we don’t need silverware because God gave us these great things called HANDS.” Ministry is very difficult in this district due to the long miles and poor road conditions but I am so encouraged that God has led Scripture Union and Pastor David to meet needs where few have ventured to go.